There are a lot of variables when it comes to a good—we mean really good—cup of coffee, but one that's often overlooked is how you grind your coffee beans. If you're going with whole beans (and by all accounts, you should), this video will show you how to get the best grind for your brewing method.

The guide, put together by the folks at America's Test Kitchen is part primer on why it's important to grind your own beans and how the quality of the grind impacts your final cup, and part guide to getting the perfect grind. Ideally, you'd use a Burr grinder for the most control over the fineness of the grind, and to get evenly ground coffee—it sucks to pour your coffee into the filter only to see huge chunks of bean that didn't get ground by your standard blade grinder.

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However, blade grinders are less expensive and more common in households, so ATK suggests that when using one, grind your coffee in short bursts. Don't just hold the trigger down and expect an even grind. If you pulse the grinder, you'll get a much more evenly ground result, which will lead to a much tastier cup of coffee. Finally, whatever you do, don't over-grind the coffee. You'll want a coarse grind for a French Press, finer grind for drip, and even finer for espresso, but overly ground coffee will end up being unnecessarily bitter.